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Side A
Original submission
Wouldloveadvice

I missed the biggest day in my boyfriend’s life and cannot stop crying and feeling absolutely horrible. My boyfriend had the graduation ceremony yesterday that marked the start of this huge career he’s been training for since he was little. It was really big it was held at a stadium and everyone had to wear these very fancy outfits they had to buy for like 900$ only to wear once to maybe twice ever. Only two people were allowed to go though so his mom and brother went while his dad and I were going to watch over zoom. He sent the zoom link three days ago with the time but not the date and I had it marked on my calendar for the 12th already (turns out that was the date for something else he told me about). Yesterday he was also teaching a class so I also figured he was doing that all day. Then he texted me while I was working that he was going to the bar later with his classmates and offered to pick me up and go with him later that night. I was confused because I thought he was talking about the students he was teaching. But I said sure and so left work as soon as I could and got all dressed up to go. Then he called me and said he was coming to pick me up and asked how was it watching his graduation link. My stomach dropped and it was then I found out it was today and that I missed it. I said no and tried to explain to him that I got the date wrong and felt absolutely horrible. I felt like I was going to cry but I didn’t want to make it sound like he had to console me because it’s me who messed up and he’s got a whole thing about that I genuinely do respect and understand. He then said he felt really disappointed because that day isn’t going to ever happen again and I had only one job which was to join the zoom link and that he now wasn’t sure if he wanted me to now come with him to the bar for (the turns out) after party. I said I totally understood and wished him a good night, apologized again, and told him I would treat him out this week. After that I just went to my mom and cried. I’ve been with him on this journey watching him grow into this incredible being and have watched him work restlessly hard in both times of joy and times of deep pain and worry. He’s the person I admire most in this world and he means so much to me. If I knew it was today I genuinely would have taken the day off. Then he calls me and says he’s here to pick me up which I was surprised by because I thought he wanted to go alone. So I quickly go and try fixing my makeup while I’m walking outside and he’s in his car. I knock on his door and give him a big hug and say congratulations. He seems a little withdrawn so I step back and check in to see what is happening. And he tells me he wants to talk first. I totally expected that eventually so I go sit in his passenger’s seat and listen and he just tells me that he’s still not sure if he wants to take me and needs a few minutes to think. At this point I’m confused because I thought it was a no yet he showed up. So I ask if I should get out of the car or something while he’s think and he says it’s up to me. A couple of quiet minutes go by and then he decides he no longer wants me there so I go back in my house and see him drive off. This point I’m a total wreck and sobbing and throwing up and start having a panic attack which I haven’t had since I was a teenager. My mom is with me then my brother comes and console me. But this entire time I feel like I don’t deserve consolation and need to accept the emotional weight of this consequence to me not being there today. They tell me that I shouldn’t beat myself this much over it and remind me that they also thought it was another day. I am frantically going over the texts on my phone to him trying to see where I missed but couldn’t find the date still. He called me at the bar and said he was too harsh and regretted not taking me and that he wasn’t having a good time. Then he calls me again asking if he can stay over. I say I wish but I think we both should get some good sleep. He ends up showing up anyways and we exchange a big hug then we decide I’ll just sleep over at his place. Things go well. But then then it dawned on me that this has been a pattern where I make a small mistake that leads to him feeling really hurt and then (I hope on accident) punishing me by treating me a little too harshly afterwards and then being super lovey and then going back to harsh if I mention I felt hurt by how harsh he was. It messes so much with my heart. This happened on my birthday and when my Grampa died too. And when I’ve told him the way he reacted hurt me too he always had said at the end of the day it’s me who made the mistake and needs to take responsibility for it. Which I agree with but also I feel like both feelings can be true at once. He calls me again today and says he changes his mind and he’s now unsure if he can trust me to support him in the future since I have the right intentions but missed doing this very important action.

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Question for the jury

What should I do next?Btw I never missed a date before with him and I already treated him out and gave a card before thi

The verdict

4–2

Majority467%

Talk to him about your feelings and the pattern you've noticed

233%

Consider giving him some space to process his emotions

0

Ask him how you can rebuild his trust moving forward

0

Not enough context

The Jury’s Read

You’re at a crucial crossroads. The room feels you should openly address his emotional withdrawal and the underlying patterns in your relationship. Many see this incident as more than a missed date; it underscores a potentially damaging dynamic that needs honest discussion. While some voices suggest giving him space, the majority urges you to confront these issues head-on, promoting healing for both of you. Remember, it’s essential to express how his reactions affect you just as much as acknowledging your mistake. This could be the moment that defines your relationship’s future.

Where they split:

A minority suggest giving him space, believing that forcing a conversation now may exacerbate the situation.

On the record

Juror reasoning

quietjuror0304Juror

What started out about you missing his special day actually wound up to something more important…at least to me. This passive aggressive habit he has that is destructive to your emotions and ultimately how you feel about him. Tell him it is a deal breaker because one day it will be. And by then you might not be strong enough to do anything about it. Nip it in the bud now.

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WiseJurorJuror

Hi — newly graduated doctor of psychology here 👋 I opted out of my graduation ceremony and don’t see it as that big of a deal to have missed the zoom ceremony. Also — wouldn’t that have been recorded? If so, an idea might be getting that and having a little date night where you play it back over a glass of champagne or something 🤔 As for the pattern you noticed — that is a real thing and will likely continue unless it is identified and worked through. I would recommend looking up Dr. Gottman’s “Four Horseman” with him and both sharing which you each engage in. Learning that can help you both express when you’re hurt without resorting to hurting the other person. It seems like you take accountability and that he can learn to recognize that he’s hurt you and be accountable for that too. Don’t beat yourself up about the graduation and find a calm way to broach the convo of expressing the push and pull dynamic and how you both can change that because it’s distressing and confusing.

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quietjuror62Juror

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quietjuror62Juror

As someone who has missed MOST graduations of the people I love the most, thankyou for this 🥲

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quietjuror62Juror

Yes, girl.. consider giving him some space- like a LOT of space!! Everything happens for a reason, and what you learned from mistaking the date of his graduation was this guy can be cruel! I think it’s obvious how much you care about The Punisher- and if you try to talk to him about your feelings and the pattern that you’ve noticed he’s probably just going to end up convincing you it’s all your fault..

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Juror419Juror

Personally if I was you, I would think very long and hard on if you want a life time of that treatment. I understand that his graduation was a big deal, and as you stated you genuinely thought it was another day. If hes unable to recognize that humans make mistakes and yes at times we end up disappointed, he needs to work a bit more on his self. Especially if hes done this same pattern when your Grandpa died (sorry for your loss btw). Life happens, and to use that as a reason as to why his trust is broken.. is kind of a ick. You can so better.

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IfTheGloveDontFitJuror

Acknowledge you Made a mistake, because you're human. Then ask how it Made him feel. Hear him out, then explain how it made you feel as well as his reaction. Ask to work together to make each other better. If he gets more butt hurt, tell him to pound sand.

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